I feared people would leak my addiction – Shilton

May 30, 2026 No Comments

I feared people would leak my addiction – Shilton4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google

Lewis AdamsEssex

Peter Shilton was addicted to gambling for 45 years, but quit in 2015

PA Media Peter Shilton has short grey hair and is wearing a suit. He is clapping. — Peter Shilton was addicted to gambling for 45 years, but quit in 2015

Ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton mentioned he was too frightened to get help with his gambling addiction, out of fear it would leak in the press.

The 76-year-old, who lives on Mersea Island in Essex, lost more than £1m betting on horse racing over 45 years, but he quit in 2015.

He has now launched a charity to help other addicts, called Shiltons’ Silverlining, and mentioned using his platform was a “no-brainer”.

“It affects you in so many ways and it’s a silent illness that’s getting worse and worse,” Shilton told BBC Essex presenter Ben Fryer.

He is England’s most-capped player with 125 appearances, and he played in the World Cups of 1982, 1986 and 1990 while also turning out for Nottingham Forest and Leicester City at club level.

Shilton played international football while in the grip of a decades-long gambling addiction

David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images Peter Shilton playing for England in the 1986 World Cup. He is wearing a grey kit and pointing while giving instructions to a teammate. — Shilton played international football while in the grip of a decades-long gambling addiction

Shilton has long credited his addiction counsellor wife, Steph, with helping him to kick the gambling habit.

“Being quite well known, it’s difficult [to get help] because you’re frightened it’s going to get out and somebody’s going to [write] it in the press, it’s going to go haywire,” he mentioned.

“That’s why Steph was so good. She worked on me over a period of time until it finally clicked. It is a terrible, silent disease.”

The legendary goalkeeper, who famously conceded Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in 1986, mentioned his charity would help gamblers rehabilitate themselves and manage their debts, and offer prevention work.

It has been backed by his former team-mates Gary Lineker, Terry Butcher and Paul Parker, as well as cricket icon Graham Gooch.

There are between 117 and 496 suicides associated with problem gambling every year, according to government figures.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by addiction, the following organisations at BBC Action Line may be able to help.

Steph Shilton mentioned it was “heartbreaking” to see people struggling with a gambling addiction

The Shiltons Peter Shilton, who is wearing a blue suit, has his arm around Steph Shilton, who has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing a black top. — Steph Shilton mentioned it was “heartbreaking” to see people struggling with a gambling addiction

Steph Shilton mentioned those “heartbreaking” numbers inspired them to set the charity up.

“Peter just looked at me and mentioned, ‘We’re not doing enough, we need to be doing more.’ They’re unnecessary deaths and it’s so heartbreaking,” she mentioned.

Shilton, whose club career also included playing for Southampton, Stoke City, Derby County and Plymouth Argyle, added: “It’s so easy to get drawn in.

“It’s always looked upon with the advertising as fun – ‘Let’s all get together and have a good time’.

“But there’s a dark time to it, which we know, and that’s why we want to help people who’ve reached a bad place.”

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